Insurance plans generally do not cover medical weight loss at GIOSTAR, which is a self-pay service. You get your full monthly total before you start, and Cherry offers monthly payment plans if you would like to spread the cost.
Here is what that means in practice: what you pay for, what moves the monthly total, and how to ask your own insurance company about your plan.
What self-pay means at GIOSTAR
Self-pay means you pay GIOSTAR directly for your program, and insurance is not part of the payment. The total comes from your plan, and you hear it from your nurse practitioner at your free consultation, before you book.
Many people prefer knowing the number first. You see what the program includes, you decide with the figure in front of you, and you start only when it fits.
What your medical weight loss monthly total is built from
Three things decide the cost of medical weight loss at GIOSTAR:
- Your medicine and dose. Medical weight loss at GIOSTAR pairs a weekly injection of a GLP-1 medication with monthly check-ins. GIOSTAR prices medication by medicine and dose.
- The lab work behind your plan. Your nurse practitioner reviews your history and labs before any prescription.
- Whether you add coaching. Coaching is a one-on-one add-on for the food side of your plan, and you can add it at any program visit.
Your nurse practitioner gives you the full monthly total at your consultation, with each piece named.
What the medical weight loss program includes
Your program covers:
- nurse practitioner visits,
- dose reviews,
- injection training,
- body composition tracking at every visit,
- and nutrition and lifestyle support.
Each month, your provider reviews your weight, body composition and side effects, then sets your next dose with you. Doses rise in steps at least 4 weeks apart, and reaching the full dose can take about 16 to 20 weeks, if you need it.
Coaching, if you want it
A coach helps you plan meals, set a daily protein target and keep eating well while your appetite changes. Coaching is optional and has its own place in the total, so you decide whether it belongs in your plan.
What your first months of medical weight loss look like
Knowing the rhythm of the program helps you judge what the total pays for. You start at a low dose, and your dose steps up in stages as you and your provider decide. You return each month, so your provider can review your weight, body composition and side effects and set the next step with you.
Between visits, call us with any question. If you ever need to step down, we plan that with you, along with the eating and strength habits you carry forward. Because the monthly check-in is built into the program, the total you hear at your consultation already includes that follow-through.
How monthly payment plans work for medical weight loss
GIOSTAR works with Cherry, a payment-plan company that offers monthly plans for qualified applicants, subject to credit approval. To use it:
- Apply on Cherry's site, which takes a few minutes.
- Choose the monthly plan that fits.
- Tell our team you are paying with Cherry when you start.
You can read more about financing at GIOSTAR.
If you want to ask your insurance company about medical weight loss
What your plan pays is a question only your insurer can answer, because plans set their own rules. If you would like to check, call the number on the back of your card and ask:
- Does my plan pay for weight loss medication, and under what conditions?
- Does my plan pay for visits with a provider outside its network?
- What paperwork would the provider need to give me?
Whatever the answer, GIOSTAR's total stays the same, and you see it before you start. Plans change from year to year, so ask again if it has been a while.
Questions to bring to your medical weight loss consultation
Cost is often the first thing people want to settle, and it helps to bring a list. Our patient team and your nurse practitioner will go through each one:
- What is my full monthly total, and what is in it?
- Which medicine would you recommend for me, and does the price differ between medicines?
- Is the product brand-name or compounded? (Compounded medications are not FDA-approved.)
- What would coaching add to the total?
- What would my monthly payment look like through Cherry?
Your nurse practitioner tells you exactly which product they would prescribe for you before you start. If you are curious how the program runs month to month, read how medical weight loss works.
Who medical weight loss may be right for
This program is for adults who want structure: a weekly medicine, a provider who watches every dose change, and support for what you eat. Your health history decides whether you qualify, and your nurse practitioner confirms it. If a simpler option suits you better, our team tells you at your consultation.
Medical weight loss at GIOSTAR in Henderson
GIOSTAR stands for Global Institute of Stem Cell Therapy and Research. Our Henderson wellness center, now open at 2482 W. Horizon Ridge Pkwy, Ste 100, guides your plan with nurse practitioners and oversight from our Medical Director, Dr. Ryan Peterson. Learn about medical weight loss at GIOSTAR, or start with a free consultation with our patient team, with no obligation.
